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Leeds United: Weather delays O’Brien’s bid to rebuild fitness
BENCH DUTY: For Andy O'Brien at Bristol City.
Andy O’Brien was denied a return to action with Leeds United after the freezing weather forced the club to cancel a reserve-team clash with Middlesbrough.
The centre-back was due to appear in a behind-closed doors friendly yesterday in what would have been his first outing since resuming training at Thorp Arch.
O’Brien, 32, recently underwent treatment for depression after a fall-out with former Leeds manager Simon Grayson, but he linked up with United’s senior squad last week and assisted caretaker boss Neil Redfearn in the dug-out during Saturday’s Championship win at Bristol City.
Redfearn omitted him from his squad at Ashton Gate with O’Brien suffering from a lack of match fitness after two-and-a-half months on the sidelines, but the experienced defender has 18 months left on his contract with Leeds and is set to resume his playing career in the coming weeks.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Bristol City, Redfearn said: “He’s going to need a little bit of work because he’ll be short of match fitness.”
Yesterday’s scheduled friendly was a chance for O’Brien to improve his conditioning but United’s ground staff were unable to beat the freezing temperatures in Yorkshire.
The game was originally due to be staged at Middlesbrough’s training complex but the clubs agreed to move it to Wetherby in the hope of avoiding a call-off.
Redfearn, United’s existing reserve and under-18s coach, planned to field several other professionals alongside O’Brien, including USA winger Robbie Rogers, Billy Paynter, and Leigh Bromby.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 22 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Daveleedsfan
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:51 PMAll I'm bothered about is whether or not the Players picked to play by Redfearn actually do want to play for him (it appears they do?) by winning the remaining matches & hopefully getting the Club into the Play Off's? However whilst reading between the lines I notice that AOB helped Redfearn out on the bench v Bristol City last Saturday hence I'm wondering if such a Partnership is what Uncle Ken is thinking? Lets face it, if the our beloved Club found themselves playing in the PL next Season I doubt the majority of us would mind having AOB back as a Player & Co Assistant to NR. But once in the PL then new Management probably be needed?
mybloodiswhitedoctor
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:24 PMok koppite we get it,you dont have to keep typing it pending moderation...is that really the best comment you can make though?
steven742
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:11 PMnow thats funny, evening the YEP are sick of origianl Koppite! give to Neil until the end of the season! but i would like to that antic guy come in, just something a bit different but his bates willing to pay the money? just things need to be sorted so coaching staff can be brought in has its alittle unfair on neil! unless bates is going to get his fat a5s3 into the coaching side as well
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:54 PMPending Moderation
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:17 PMPending Moderation
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:14 PMPending Moderation
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:51 PMPending Moderation
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:50 PMPending Moderation
original koppite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:25 PMPending Moderation
KRU251
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:10 PMRe: Weather delays O’Brien’s bid to rebuild fitness. Of course you're quite right RichC. sorry We are aware of match fitness's importance. SG over-reacted when OB refused to play and so did every other right minded Leeds fan. Nobody knew of his depression and he's having a second chance. End of! Lets get him right and start playing him, lets not start making excuses for him and molly-coddling him. Agreed on Helping him be the player he was.
Liam123
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:53 AMRichC - My comment is not about people with money not being depressed. It is about the fact that he is not doing his job because of a mental illness, but still he will not be on statutory sick pay, he will be on the £10,000 - £15,000 a week salary. Now in relation to Leeds United and not O'Brien, that £10,000 - £15,000 a week is the difference between players like Howson, Snodgrass, White...... signing a new contract or leaving our club. I know who I would rather have. Furthermore, this has been dragging on since last year, I am sure there are more important things to talk about at the club rather than the fitness of A O'B, as I said, he would struggle to get into the side anyway. He had a few good games when he was on loan trying to get a contract, when he signed up he went downhill rapidly.
RichC
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:42 AMIf you read the article properly it says he is short of match fitness and not that he's gained five stone since he stopped playing. Match fitness is crucial to any player at every level. We don't know the extent of AOB's depression so maybe when he has fully recovered, physically and mentally, we will see the side of the player we had on loan again. And it's a bit unfair of the YEP to say he was treated for depression after a fall out with Grayson. I think he (Grayson) initially over-reacted to AOB's refusal to play but certainly wasn't to blame for the depression. Oh and another thing, depression doesn't look at your wage slip before deciding to pounce so all those thinking that just because he gets £x grand a week he should be jumping through hoops as happy as a dog with 2 dicks.
RichC
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:42 AMIf you read the article properly it says he is short of match fitness and not that he's gained five since he stopped playing. Match fitness is crucial to any player at every level. We don't know the extent of AOB's depression so maybe when he has fully recovered, physically and mentally, we will see the side of the player we had on loan again. And it's a bit unfair of the YEP to say he was treated for depression after a fall out with Grayson. I think he (Grayson) initially over-reacted to AOB's refusal to play but certainly wasn't to blame for the depression. Oh and another thing, depression doesn't look at your wage slip before deciding to pounce so all those thinking that just because he gets £x grand a week he should be jumping through hoops as happy as a dog with 2 dicks.
bramley whites
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:58 AMI won't repeat what i wrote about grayson and obriens fallout i got slated for it ! But there is the old saying no smoke with out fire !!!! I don't want reders no disrespect to anybody who does as liam says we should win the next four matches ! Even if i was in charge lol but in the long term it cannot be warnock or Davies if we want to stay in the premier league if we get there ! Give Davies or warnock a contract to the end of the season with a big bonus if one of them gets us up there! give them a pay off and then start searching for a proven quality premier league manager
KRU251
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:40 AMYes OB's had his problems but claiming that the weather is hindering his fitness is a bit of a lame excuse in my opinion. i recon we shouldn't molly-coddle these players too much. If the lads not fit because he's just not up to it at the moment, then say so. If he needs more time to recover mentaly then say so. It maybe isn't true in OB's case, who knows? but it strikes me that we have a lot of malingerer's at this club who need to be moved on.
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